calm 1 of 3

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calm

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noun

calm

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verb

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a calm demeanor
a cool demeanor
a placid demeanor
a tranquil demeanor
a peaceful demeanor
a relaxed demeanor
calm determination
quiet determination
cool determination
stoic determination
placid determination
tranquil determination
calm dignity
quiet dignity
serene dignity
tranquil dignity
placid dignity
gentle dignity
calm wind
gentle wind
soft wind
mild wind
light wind

Synonym Chooser

How is the word calm different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of calm are peaceful, placid, serene, and tranquil. While all these words mean "quiet and free from disturbance," calm often implies a contrast with a foregoing or nearby state of agitation or violence.

the protests ended, and the streets were calm again

When is peaceful a more appropriate choice than calm?

In some situations, the words peaceful and calm are roughly equivalent. However, peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

When might placid be a better fit than calm?

The words placid and calm can be used in similar contexts, but placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

When would serene be a good substitute for calm?

Although the words serene and calm have much in common, serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

When can tranquil be used instead of calm?

The synonyms tranquil and calm are sometimes interchangeable, but tranquil suggests a very deep quietude or composure.

the tranquil beauty of a formal garden

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of calm
Adjective
Centrally located, Janu is a calm and contemporary base from which to explore the city. Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025 BlackRock, too, found that investors mostly stayed calm during the turbulence of early April. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
Her mother called an ambulance, only to see Onyx calm and smiling when the paramedics arrived to transport her to Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center in Alpharetta, Ga. Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025 Officials have urged calm and emphasized there is no evidence suggesting the sightings posed a security threat. Pete Muntean, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
With a blend of skin-loving ingredients and calming essential oils like eucalyptus and lavender, your nightly cleanse becomes a luxe ritual. Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 25 Apr. 2025 Its calming atmosphere and high level of service will take you from the bustling streets to a haven of peace in a matter of minutes. Jessica Vadillo, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for calm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calm
Adjective
  • As season three continues, the quiet part is said out loud.
    Cyndy Etler, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025
  • In the rich and frequently chaotic history of Marseille, there can have been fewer more apt demonstrations of the club’s inherent tendency towards turbulence than the decision to head to Rome for some peace and quiet in the same week as the death of the Pope.
    Tom Williams, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Hotel is a luxury resort located along the serene mangroves, offering a peaceful escape while still being close to the action of the downtown.
    Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The region marks the entrance to the Kettle Moraine State Forest and is a serene backyard for residents of Milwaukee: a patchwork of wetlands, forests, and prairie land.
    Tim Chester, AFAR Media, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to the war, just before Trump and Zelenskyy took their seats at the outdoor funeral service.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Together, these two pros deliver a Sunday to-do list that will hopefully create a more peaceful and efficient week ahead.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The attack followed President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance warning that Washington could abandon trying to negotiate a Ukraine-Russia peace settlement if there is no progress on a deal soon.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • As part of its mission to seal a peace deal to end the three-year war, the US administration has proposed recognizing Russian control of Crimea, officials familiar with the details have told CNN.
    Todd Symons, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rosemary oil’s anti-inflammatory properties may help soothe a dry, red, or irritated scalp.
    Carley Millhone, Health, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The formula is also infused with a bio-restorative complex that repairs damage and strengthens, lupine flower peptides that deliver amino acids to the cortex to boost keratin to help damaged hair and eucalyptus oil to soothe the senses.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After the fire is fully contained, the next step is to control it.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Fires were contained, and no casualties were reported.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Soft, soothing shades like dusty blues, sage greens and warm neutrals can help create a tranquil mood.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Photo: Lourenco Teixeira de Abreu For a more tranquil coastal retreat, Mélides offers a quieter escape with wilder, more secluded beaches—perhaps what first drew Christian Louboutin and Vincent Van Duysen, both of whom have homes in the area.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Eliot compares this style to Rory McIlroy lining up a putt to win the Masters: focused, composed, blocking out distractions.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The sets had their ups and downs: some of the improvisations were gorgeous, but the more composed elements felt messy.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Calm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calm. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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